to mine
2
8.3
- verb
- /maɪn/
- Specialized
- The beaches were mined and covered with insidious, pronged metal devices designed to rip out the bottoms of landing craft.
- to mine an area
- to mine roads
- heavily mined
Examples
-
Switzerland itself was mined, booby-trapped, and well-defended.
Fiction book (1992) -
All the roads are either blocked or mined.
-
Two forces have mined the road.
-
The whole approach to the city must be mined.
-
Areas between strong points were either mined or flooded.
Academic text (1994) -
I knew the waters were mined, but I figured I could get in, get out without a scratch.
-
Coastal waters were mined and patrolled.
-
You risked your ship entering a mined harbor to pull my men to safety.
-
As I've said, this area was heavily mined in the war and a lot of mines went missing.
Fiction book (1998) -
The military has mined the area to protect against enemy attacks.
Synonyms
1
7.9
To put explosive devices under the ground to make an area dangerous
Idioms
- Informal
6
7.4
Something you say when you do not know the answer any more than the other person does
Phrasal Verbs
- Specialized
2
6.6
To remove large areas of earth and rock to get minerals near the surface
- Literature
1
7.1
Take large amounts of data quickly from a website or database to sell
- Specialized
1
6.0
To remove earth and rock from the ground to get coal or other minerals
Compounds
- Specialized
2
6.0
An open area where workers remove earth and rock to get minerals near the surface
- Specialized
An enclosed platform that moves people and supplies up and down a mine shaft
- NSFW
A bomb hidden in the ground that explodes when stepped on or driven over
How Dangerous
1
7.9
- Specialized
2
8.3
Surface Forms
Etymology
Mine meaning 'to place explosives' comes from the device called a mine, so to mine an area is to put hidden explosive devices there to block or damage people and vehicles.